Growing Concerns that White House is Sacrificing Admiral to Shield Hegseth in 'Kill Them All' Boat Strikes: Report

Senior Pentagon officials are reportedly furious over what appears to be the Trump administrations plan to hold a seasoned naval officer responsible for a second missile strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel, which allegedly targeted survivors of an earlier attack.

On Monday, the White House corroborated reporting by The Washington Post that U.S. forces had killed survivors of the initial September strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea. President Donald Trump has claimed the vessel was involved in transporting drugs for the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley, who commanded the mission executed by the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, had acted fully within his authority and the law, directing the operation to ensure the vessel was neutralized when he ordered the follow-up attack.

The second missile strike, which destroyed the vessel and killed all 11 passengers, reportedly followed a verbal order from War Secretary Pete Hegseth to eliminate everyone aboard. This tactic, known as a double-tap strike, alarmed congressional armed services leaders, who warned that targeting shipwrecked survivors could be illegal under U.S. and international law.

Leavitt, however, maintained that no laws were breached, asserting that Bradleys actions were fully authorized and lawful and aimed to eliminate the threat posed by narcotics traffickers. She emphasized that the strikes took place in international waters and complied with the law of armed conflict.

Her statement drew sharp criticism from Pentagon sources, with one official calling it protect Pete nonsense and another accusing the White House of abandoning military personnel as Congress prepares an investigation into the September 2 operation.

Hegseth later defended Bradley on social media, praising the admirals career with the SEAL teams and his role in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks. He described Bradley as an American hero and a consummate professional and supported his combat decisions on the September 2 mission and previous operations.

Despite these defenses, congressional leaders remain determined to uncover the full circumstances of the attack. Senator Roger Wicker, Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he had spoken with Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Dan Caine, and planned to meet with Bradley. Were going to determine the actual facts, Wicker stated.

Author: Zoe Harrison